Beside You

Chapter 4 - Xavier

School ended early today. Aleisha and I decided to stay at the field. She gave me tips on first dates. She's kinda good at this. Well, no wonder. Luke takes her out on a date a lot. He treats her like a princess everyday. Actually Luke asks the group of something new to surprise Aleisha whenever he feels like it. The boys would think it's so cheesy of course but they'd still give out awesome ideas.

"Okay, here's the thing, never, I mean NEVER pay for your meal, okay? He's the guy. He's got loads of money. I mean, he's got a car. It's impossible that he can't pay for your dinner. Do you understand what I'm saying, Gemma?" She asked me seriously."

"Yes, I do but will you please just watch the game with me?" I asked and she shook her head. "I just..." then the thoughts of getting embarrassed came to my mind again. "I'm just really nervous. I mean, this is my first date and it's with a really cute guy that I really, really like and..." I looked at Aleisha. "Please tell me I'll do great? That I will not embarrass myself. Tell me that, I don't know, trip on my in and..."

"On your way to where?" A boy said from my back.

I looked back and the three boys are there. Luke, Michael, and Calum. Oh dear. I forgot to tell him about today! He's never going to forgive me. 

The blonde boy who likes pizza way too much that he eats the ones that are supposed to be for a sick friend started talking and I know that he's not going to say something nice. "You look nice today, Gem." I stand corrected. "But Halloween is months away. You're a bit early." spoke too soon.

I gave him a sarcastic smile.

"Well, Michael Clifford, that girl whom you think is attending a Halloween Party is wearing my clothes so shut up because she looks absolutely beautiful." Aleisha protested.

"Nah, still Halloween for me." Michael added.

Luke hit him lightly. "Don't listen to him, Gem," Luke stated. "but you do look a little weird today. Well, good weird not bad weird. Uhm... You're wearing makeup." He added as he tried to smudge the eye shadow Aleisha put on my face.

Aleisha lightly tapped Luke's hand. "Babe, don't do that. We've got 15 minutes until her date and I worked really hard to make her look pretty." She said and I scowled at her like do-you-mean-I'm-not-pretty-before scowl.

"Who's got a date?" Calum finally talked.

"I do." I said as I bit pressed my lips into a thin line.

"With Xavier?" Calum said.

"Yup and he's here early. I gotta go guys." I said and I got off my seat.

Calum grabbed me by my arms and whispered in my ear. "I don't want to ruin your date but... Be careful Gem. Just call me if you get in trouble." and he let me go.

"I'm gonna be fine, Cal. Don't worry." I hugged him, Luke and Aleisha before going.

"Where's my hug?" Michael shouted.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there, Michael." I shouted back.

Xavier opened the door for me. Wow. He just proved to me that chivalry is not dead. Or maybe I just hung out with crazy boys too much that I'm like one of the boys? 

As I got inside the car, he ran back to the driver's seat and buckled up. His car smells like car freshener and I must say, his car is squeaky clean. I looked outside the window and saw Aleisha waving at me while the three boys are just staring with blank faces. Xavier waved back at her. What a nice guy. I could see girls from other classes staring at me. Now I'm nervous. What if they bully me? I remember the last girl Xavier dated, girl beat her up just because they're jealous. How immature can they be? In the end, the girl just broke up with him because she couldn't take what other people said about her. They called her a slut and stuff. Am I really doing this? What if they did that to me too? Well, I'll just have to be brave.